Neighbors, the cross-pollinating continues! It's not a surprise to my professional friends that my personal and business lives are pretty much one and the same, but some of my friends (the ones I haven't met through business, actual work or professional groups) may not know that!  

Last Thursday evening my fun, intelligent and forward-thinking lady friends from "North Kingstown Neighbors & Newcomers" got a taste of my passionate obsession for cross pollinating...well, everything!  

I co-hosted the monthly Thursday evening soirée with another neighbor/newcomer friend who I met and became fast friends with when she – then a newcomer – was a guest at a Plum Beach Garden Club meeting.

We invited some of our business neighbors to shake things up. A North Kingstown mommy and professional friend and owner of my favorite new catering company, Jessica Wood of Wildwood Caterers, served the food. Wildwood is a "hyper-local" food company which means their food is sourced, as much as possible, within a 60-mile radius! Everything I've had (which seems to be a lot, as I've already used their services a half dozen times) is nothing short of spectacular and I would probably categorize it as "smart, healthy and whole food - affordable chic gourmet!”  

We also had another NK business owner that exemplifies innovation, Stephanie Additon, co-owner of Updike's Newtowne Coffee Roasters, come with gifts for our skin. She recently launched her new company Java Worx International that features really cool “stuff'” made with their coffee. She features organic skin care products, that actually have ground coffee in them, such as blood orange lip balm, body scrub, hand and body cream, as well as gorgeous earrings made with coffee beans and so much more!  Other local business women in attendance were Heidi from Re – a beautifully displayed, high end (yet affordable) consignment store on Post Road – and Donna Dube of Wickford Gourmet.  

We were all excited to hear that Donna, and her husband, will be moving back into their Wickford location with a new twist. Stop in after May 1 to see what they have planned! It was so much fun introducing these amazing businesses to “neighbors” who hadn't known about them.  

I know I mention it all the time, but I feel so lucky to be a part of this community.  There is so much going on and I am so looking forward to this week’s Annual LINKS "Ladies' Night Out" and at least a dozen other fun events coming up! Last week’s Wickford Junction Train Station grand opening ceremony was both a culmination of a hard fought dream and the beginning of a new spirit of innovation, teamwork and forward momentum in North Kingstown (and RI) that will move us toward true economic development and a stronger community. The West Bay YMCA had a group that rode their bicycles to the ceremony and the North Kingstown High School's award-winning symphonic band opened and closed the event.  

I couldn't believe how fitting it was that Bob Cioe's closing statement today was a call for us to not carry negativity but instead embrace a more positive outlook.  He called for us to be kind to our neighbors and our adversaries and to move forward together; referring of course to the wonderful example of teamwork the train station exemplifies!  YES - NK!